New music park ready for opening season

Aurora outdoor venue to host Blues on the Fox next month

Tim Rater, president and CEO of the Aurora Civic Center Authority, is responsible running and programing RiverEdge Park Music Garden. (Jack McCarthy, Special to the Tribune)

RiverEdge Park Music Garden has yet to host an event, but Aurora's $13 million outdoor entertainment venue might have all the makings of a hit.

An inaugural summer season features a mix of big names, regional entertainers and community events and debuts with blues legend Buddy Guy headlining the 17th annual Blues on the Fox on June 14-15.

"We've tried to put together a full summer, and we've done it," said Tim Rater, CEO of the Aurora Civic Center Authority. "We have shows every weekend — every Friday-Saturday — (and) it's going to be quite remarkable to have that experience right here on the river in downtown Aurora."

Located on cleaned-up onetime industrial sites on North Broadway, RiverEdge Park is steps from downtown Aurora, the Aurora Transportation Center and the landmark Two Brothers' Roundhouse restaurant.

The scenic park and performance venue is a major piece of a broader 30-acre riverfront redevelopment project embracing both banks of the Fox River. It eventually will feature a pedestrian bridge linking a west side park, east side park expansions and a nature preservation projects.

Modeled after venues in Milwaukee and on Chicago's Northerly Island, it took 24 months for the Music Garden to go from securing funding to essential completion.

"It's a beautiful park that's been done on time, on budget," Rater said.

The site is designed to accommodate more than 10,000 people, including 2,500 in seating in front of the stage, 6,000 to 8,000 general admission patrons and up to 300 guests on a VIP rooftop deck.

The centerpiece is the John C. Dunham Pavilion performance stage, a canopied space facing south that includes easy-access docks and indoor accommodations for offices and performers.

"It's pretty breathtaking when you're on the skydeck and looking out over it," said Chris Hamilton, Aurora Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau executive director. "I think very quickly you get the picture of what can happen here."

Funds for the public-private endeavor include an $8 million Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant, $3 million from the Fox Valley Park District, a $2 million contribution from the Aurora-based John C. Dunham Foundation and $2 million from the Kane County Forest Preserve District for design and construction of a pedestrian bridge.

A paved recreation trail runs through the venue, linking paths that run from Kendall County to the Wisconsin state line. The trail is expected to remain open through most events.

The Aurora Puerto Rican 42nd Heritage Festival is set for late July while RiverEdge will also host Fiesta Patrias Aurora in mid-September. There's also a sing-a-long showing of the movie "Grease" in early August.

"We have a beautiful venue to share with the world, it's a long time coming," Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner said at a preview event last week. "And this is just phase one."

A full schedule and ticket information is available at RiverEdgeAurora.com or by calling 630-896-6666. The city will operate facility tours for the public June 3-6.